Madison — Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp on Tuesday defended Gov. Scott Walker's plan to turn the Natural Resources Board into an advisory panel, instead of one that makes policy, even as she acknowledged she had not been consulted on the proposal in advance.

"I feel that it's extra layers," Stepp said of the board in a briefing to the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee. "I think it's duplicative."

The idea has sparked opposition from Democrats as well as some of Walker's fellow Republicans. Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon) said he had "some concerns" about the plan.(52)

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp., then so is chief executive Michael Koss, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

In a suit filed last week, the bank argues that if a jury finds Park Bank liable for the loss, then Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, the firm's former auditor, should have to pay some of the award.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," Park Bank wrote in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss in this case those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(1)

UW, Washington agree to home-and-home in 2017 and '18

Madison - Wisconsin and Washington of the Pacific 10 Conference have agreed to a home-and-home deal for the 2017 and 2018 football seasons, the schools announced Tuesday.

The Badgers are to host Washington on Sept. 2, 2017. UW is to travel to Washington on Sept. 1, 2018.

The teams have met four times, including in the 1960 Rose Bowl. The last time the teams met was in 1992, when Barry Alvarez’s UW team opened the season at No. 2-ranked Washington.

“I think this is a great opportunity to play against a quality opponent in two terrific settings,” head coach Bret Bielema said in a release. “Obviously our fans at Camp Randall will enjoy seeing a Pac-10 team come to Madison.

"I know a lot of our fans also like to travel to our road games and Seattle is a great city and Husky Stadium is a wonderful venue for college football.”

Washington is the latest in a long line of future home-and-home agreements for UW.

The Badgers are to face Pac-10 members Arizona State (2010 in Madison and 2013 in Tempe), Oregon State (2011 in Madison and 2012 in Corvallis) and Washington State (2014 in Pullman and 2015 in Madison).

In addition, UW is to face Virginia Tech (2016 in Blacksburg and 2017 in Madison) from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

UW has also finalized its 2010 nonconference schedule.

The Badgers open the season Sept. 4 at Nevada-Las Vegas and then have three consecutive home games -- against San Jose State on Sept. 11, against Arizona State on Sept. 18 and against Austin Peay, a Football Championship Subdivision school, on Sept. 25.